Sylvania leaders tally up costs of protection at Farr

I.K. Kim reacts to missing a birdie putt on Hole 18 during the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania. THE BLADE/LORI KING Enlarge | Buy This Photo

A week of the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic brought a few additional costs to the Sylvania Township Fire Department and the City of Sylvania Police Division. Due to additional patrols and the offering of medical services, both departments had to make arrangements to offer everyday service to the community, in addition to providing assistance at the event.

Sylvania Township fire Chief Jeffrey Kowalski said the department had a paramedic lieutenant station at the EMS tent at the tournament. The cost of having the tent staffed totaled $3,118.28 for 76 hours of service, with benefits included.

Chief William Rhodus from the City of Sylvania Police Division said the costs incurred this year were within range of what was originally expected.

“Our overtime costs were comparable to our costs back in 2010 when the Jamie Farr Tournament was last held in Sylvania,” he said. Chief Rhodus said the only thing different about this tournament year was a “very slight increase in our total amount of hours worked as overtime.” There are many explanations for the increase.

“Sometimes there are circumstances that will come up from time to time that will require us to spend additional hours making sure we are providing adequate security for all attendees at the Jamie Farr Tournament, while at the same time providing traffic control duties in and around the event,” Chief Rhodus said.

Officers were also out on regular patrols, maintaining department coverage in the rest of the city, during the tournament. But because the department was able to plan ahead, he said they were well- prepared.

“We were able to do all of this by restricting our officers time off during this week, which allowed us to provide adequate coverage,” Chief Rhodus said. This year, 233.5 hours were spent in patrolman overtime, which amounted to $10,507.50. Additionally, 85.25 hours were spent in sergeant overtime hours, which amounted to $4,603.50. The total cost for patrolman and sergeant overtime hours totaled $15,111.000 for Aug. 6 through Aug. 12.

Conversely, in 2010, when the classic was held from June 28 through July 4, 208.25 hours were spent in patrolman overtime, which amounted to $9,058.88 in costs. Sergeant overtime hours totaled 69.75 hours, with a cost of $3,661.88. The total cost for patrolman and sergeant overtime hours in 2010 was $12,720.76, which is $2,390.24 less the costs incurred this year.

Overall, Chief Rhodus said he was impressed with the service of the division during the week.

“All of this was accomplished because we have the finest group of officers, dispatchers and police volunteers,” he said.

Contact Kelly McLendon at kmclendon@theblade.com or 419-206-0356.